20 Dog Breeds That Have Gone Extinct

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There have been many dog breeds in this world since ancient times. Some have evolved from their predecessors, while others just went into extinction. However, one must be aware of the breeds that have faded away. So, here are the 20 dog breeds that have gone extinct.

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Fuegian Dog

The Fuegian Dog was originally a breed from South America. The primary purpose of these dogs was to hunt otters and protect humans from animals. However, even after so many benefits, these dogs were not loyal to their owners and used to ruin livestock. Therefore, people stopped breeding, which led to their extinction.

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Salish Wool Dog

When it comes to wool, humans prefer sheep or goats. However, Coast Salish people did not have access to either of them, so they bred the Salish Wool Dog. This dog breed was a pooch with long, warm fur. The dog was shaved every year, and the fur was later used to make blankets.

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Dalbo Dog

The Dalbo Dog breed was a huge, exclusive dog used in watch parties. This breed was first introduced in Sweden. They were used to protect herds from dangerous animals like wolves. The reason for the loss of this breed is still uncertain. However, some believe the outbreak of rabies led to the extinction of Dalbo dogs.

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Molossus

The Molossians were the Greek tribes, and they bred Molossus. This dog breed was used for both hunting and to protect the herd. They were considered quite ferocious and strong back in those days. People believe the Mastiffs of modern times are the successors of Molossus.

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Old English Bulldog

The Old English Bulldog was large and a great pet dog. However, they were replaced by better breeds, which led to their extinction. People still get confused about whether or not Old English bulldogs are extinct.

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Turnspit Dog

The Turnspit Dog was generally small in size but had a long body. They were mistaken for the Welsh Corgi numerous times due to the same build. The main purpose of the Turnspit Dog breed was to rotate a wooden wheel on the roasting spits in the fireplace so that it could help roast meat evenly.

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Dogo Cubano

The Dogo Cubano was a crossbreed of Mastiff and Bloodhound. They were quite big, aggressive, and quick learners. However, their strength was used to hunt the escaping slaves. When slavery ended, the owners stopped breeding, and this led to the extinction of the Dogo Cubano.

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Argentine Polar Dog

When the Argentinian army wanted to cross Antarctica, they used to get attacked by animals. Later, they bred Argentine Polar Dogs as guard dogs for protection. They were quick, big, and aggressive. Due to their lack of contact with other dogs and various canine diseases, their years of life were very short.

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Braque Dupuy

The Braque Dupuy was bred by hunters for bird hunting. They had a great sense of sight and smell, which helped them hunt birds when shot in the air. As they were not very popular back in those days, there were very few dogs of this breed. At last, they all faded away.

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Hare Indian Dog

The Hare Indian Dogs were used for hunting practices. They looked like coyotes, but they were very friendly with humans. It was popular for its agility and hunting ability, particularly while hunting rabbits and other small animals. The Hare Indian Dog was small to medium-sized, having a thin frame and thick fur that helped it survive cold weather.

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Moscow Water Dog

Around World War II, many rescue dogs were killed. In order to accomplish certain tasks, the U.S.S.R. bred different dogs to make Moscow Water Dogs. The main task of this breed was to rescue soldiers trapped in water. However, later, this idea failed as the dogs started biting rather than rescuing them.

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Tahltan Bear Dog

The Tahltan Bear Dog is originally from Canada. Talking about size, they were quite small. This breed was used as a companion in hunting bears. Their small size favored them in getting inside the hollow wood, while the bear got stuck at the open end and was eventually killed by a human. The reason for the extinction of the Tahltan Bear Dog is still unknown.

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Norfolk Spaniel

When it comes to a dog with high maintenance, the Norfolk Spaniel cannot be missed. This breed of dog was quite bad-tempered and equally stubborn, which was why they were very hard to train. They used to get itching fits whenever separated from their owners.

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Halls Heeler

The Halls Heeler was introduced by a Welshman named Thomas Simpson Hall. He wanted a breed of dog that could look after the herding cattle. Later on, he crossed breeds with Northumberland Drover’s Dogs and Dingoes. After the death of Thomas in 1870, all his dogs were sold around the world, and the Halls-Heeler breed went extinct.

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Chien-Gris

The Chien-Gris breed was very popular in medieval times. They were considered to be hounds with a great sense of smell. They used to join the hunting parties organized by the upper class. They were unstoppable when hunting for prey. Due to the French Revolution, hunting was prohibited, which led to the demise of this breed.

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Kuri

Kuri is a dog breed from New Zealand. It is believed that these dogs originated when the Maorian demigod Maui turned his brother-in-law into a dog. Apart from this, they were used for the sole purpose of hunting. Their reason for extinction is cross-breeding with other dogs.

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Paisley Terrier

Paisley Terrier was originally a breed from Scotland. The main reason for this breeding was that people in town wanted a great pet. The best part about this house dog was that it was great at killing rats. Later, Scottish people demanded better breeds than Paisley, which led to the extinction of this breed.

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St. John’s Water Dog

St. John’s Water Dog was considered a great companion to the fishermen of Newfoundland. They were known for the thick fur on their bodies, which was water-resistant. The dog breeders in Newfoundland stopped breeding due to the new tax laws, which led to the extinction of the St. John’s Water Dog.

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Bullenbeisser

The bull and bear baiting sport was quite popular in Germany. Therefore, Germans breed Bullenbeisser as bait in this sport. They were strong and quite large in size and acted as the perfect bait for the game. When the sport got banned, owners stopped breeding Bullenbeisser, which led to the extinction of this dog.

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Toy Bulldog

After bear-and-bull baiting was stopped, Germans replaced Bullbeisser with Toy Bulldog. As the name suggests, they used to be house pets. They were quite small, unlike Bullbeisser, and very stubborn. With their stubbornness, they were very hard to breed, which at last led breeders to stop breeding Toy Bulldogs.